Mom warns ‘Buckyballs’ may be dangerous Christmas present

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GALESBURG, Illinois -- A Galesburg mom is warning other parents that a popular Christmas present may be dangerous.

They're called Buckyballs -- small, powerful magnets sold as a desk toy for adults.

"I had never even heard of them, and then to know if they're ingested that they can cause so much damage. We had no idea at all," said Ginger Halouska.

Five years ago, Halouska's 10-year-old son, Nate Heck, swallowed seven of the balls while playing.

"We were in the living room playing games... then I had to go to the bathroom, and that didn't work. Then we went to bed, and I couldn't fall asleep or anything," said Heck.

Halouska and Heck went to the hospital, and they ended up in Peoria for emergency surgery to remove the balls. Doctors also had to repair four holes in Heck's intestines.

"They [the balls] had separated, but then going through the intestines, they were drawn back to each other. In the process of getting to each other, that's where the friction tore holes in the intestine," said Halouska.